Denis Villeneuve to Direct Harrison Ford in Blade Runner Sequel

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Prisoners and Enemy helmer Denis Villeneuve is in negotiations to direct Blade Runner 2 with Harrison Ford set to return.

Ridley Scott, who directed the iconic 1982 neo-noir sci-fi thriller, is on board to executive produce for Alcon Entertainment. Written by Hampton Fancher (Blade Runner) and Michael Green (Prometheus 2), the sequel will take place several decades after the original film.

Loosely based on author Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the original film told the story of Rick Deckard (Ford), a blade runner cop, who is ordered to pursue and terminate four replicants that stole a ship on an off-world colony and have returned to Earth to find their creator.

It's still unknown if the second movie will be based on author K.W. Jeter's 1995 science fiction novel Blade Runner 2: The Edge of Human. The book picks up the story of Deckard on the trail of a replicant, not knowing that it may be the most elusive and dangerous android of all.

"We are honored that Harrison is joining us on this journey with Denis Villeneuve, who is a singular talent, as we experienced personally on Prisoners," Alcon's Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson said. "Hampton and Michael, with Ridley Scott, have crafted a uniquely potent and faithful sequel to one of the most universally celebrated films of all time, and we couldn't be more thrilled with this amazing, creative team."

The 'Blade Runner' sequel is scheduled to start principal photography in summer 2016.